Diabetes In Children: Checking Blood Sugar In A Child
Introduction Your child needs to know when his or her blood sugar level is outside the target range. Fortunately, your child's blood sugar level can be checked anywhere and anytime by using a home blood sugar (glucose) meter. Blood sugar meters give results quickly. Knowing your child's blood sugar level helps you treat low or high blood sugar before it becomes an emergency. It also helps you know how exercise and food affect your child's blood sugar and how much short-acting insulin to give (if your child takes insulin). How is blood sugar monitored? Here is a simple way to get started monitoring your child's blood sugar at home. Use these same steps to help your child learn this task. Get organized Before you start testing your child's blood sugar: Link testing your child's blood sugar with other daily activities, such as preparing for breakfast or before an afternoon activity. This will help your child build the habit of self-testing. Be sure you have the supplies you need to test your child's blood sugar. Keep the supplies together so that a test can be done quickly if needed. Check your equipment before each test. Check the expiration date on the testing strips. If you use test strips after the expiration date on the bottle, you may not get accurate results. Many meters don't need a code from the test strips, but some will. If your meter does, make sure the code numbers on the testing strips bottle match the numbers on the blood sugar meter. If the numbers do not match, follow the directions that come with the meter for changing the code numbers. Many manufacturers recommend using the sugar control solution that is made by your meter's manufacturer the first time you use your meter, when you open a new bottle of test strips, or when you check the accuracy of your m Continue reading >>
Blood Glucose Monitoring: Tips To Monitor Your Blood Sugar Successfully
Blood sugar testing is an essential part of managing and controlling diabetes. Knowing your blood sugar level quickly can help alert you to when your level has fallen or risen outside the target range. In some cases, this will help prevent an emergency situation. You’ll also be able to record and track your blood glucose readings over time. This will show you how exercise, food, and medicine affect your levels. Conveniently enough, testing your blood glucose level can be done just about anywhere and at any time. In as little as a minute or two, you can test your blood and have a reading using an at-home blood sugar meter or blood glucose monitor. Learn more: Choosing a glucose meter » Whether you test several times a day or only once, following a testing routine will help you prevent infection, return true results, and better monitor your blood sugar. Here’s a step-by-step routine you can follow: Wash your hands with warm, soapy water. Then dry them well with a clean towel. If you use an alcohol swab, be sure to let the area dry completely before testing. Prepare a clean lancet device by inserting a clean needle. This spring-loaded device that holds the needle is what you will use to prick the end of your finger. Remove one test strip from your bottle or box of strips. Be sure to close the bottle or box completely to avoid contaminating the other strips with dirt or moisture. All modern meters now have you insert the strip into the meter before you collect blood, so you can add the blood sample to the strip when it is in the meter. With some older meters, you put the blood on the strip first, and then put the strip in the meter. Stick the side of your fingertip with the lancet. Some blood sugar machines allow for testing from different sites on your body, such as t Continue reading >>
Little Things That Can Have A Big Impact On Your Blood Glucose Reading
When you have diabetes, it's vital to make sure you're getting the most accurate reading when checking your blood glucose levels to ensure tight diabetes control. Emmy Suhl, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., at Joslin Diabetes Center, reviews different things that can impact your blood glucose reading and how to avoid them. Things that Can Affect your Blood Glucose Reading A dirty meter. Outdated test strips. If test strips are not compatible with the meter you're using, results may be inaccurate or no result will be obtained. If the wrong strip is used, it may not even fit into the slot or it may fit, but the meter won’t turn on, Suhl says. Substances left on your hands. For example, if there is a sugary substance on the finger used for lancing, even if it’s a small amount that can’t be seen, a high blood glucose reading can result. Temperature changes (heat/humidity/cold air). Not a big enough blood sample on the test strip. Wet fingers. Fluid mixes with blood and can cause an inaccurate reading. How to Avoid an Inaccurate Blood Glucose Reading Before using the meter for the first time and then again every few weeks, check your meter using the control solution, Suhl says. Control solution is only good for three months once opened. Label the control solution bottle with the date you open it. Check the date and shake control solution before using. The value the control solution gives should be in the target range printed on the strips container. Make sure strips are not expired. Check the date on the strip container. Make sure code on strip container matches the code on the meter. Wash hands in warm water and dry them off after. Massage hands before checking. Select site on one side of the center of a fingertip. Rotate sites for each check. Apply gentle pressure to lanced finge Continue reading >>
Why Does My Bg Vary From One Hand To The Other?
There is always a discrepancy when I test my blood glucose levels on one hand versus the other. This morning I tested my left hand and got a blood glucose reading of 153. I immediately tested my right hand, and it read 167. Why is this happening? Sometimes the difference is as much as 50 mg/dl. Continue reading >>
Little Things That Can Have A Big Impact On Your Blood Glucose Reading
When you have diabetes, it's vital to make sure you're getting the most accurate reading when checking your blood glucose levels to ensure tight diabetes control. Emmy Suhl, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., at Joslin Diabetes Center, reviews different things that can impact your blood glucose reading and how to avoid them. Things that Can Affect your Blood Glucose Reading A dirty meter. Outdated test strips. If test strips are not compatible with the meter you're using, results may be inaccurate or no result will be obtained. If the wrong strip is used, it may not even fit into the slot or it may fit, but the meter won’t turn on, Suhl says. Substances left on your hands. For example, if there is a sugary substance on the finger used for lancing, even if it’s a small amount that can’t be seen, a high blood glucose reading can result. Temperature changes (heat/humidity/cold air). Not a big enough blood sample on the test strip. Wet fingers. Fluid mixes with blood and can cause an inaccurate reading. How to Avoid an Inaccurate Blood Glucose Reading Before using the meter for the first time and then again every few weeks, check your meter using the control solution, Suhl says. Control solution is only good for three months once opened. Label the control solution bottle with the date you open it. Check the date and shake control solution before using. The value the control solution gives should be in the target range printed on the strips container. Make sure strips are not expired. Check the date on the strip container. Make sure code on strip container matches the code on the meter. Wash hands in warm water and dry them off after. Massage hands before checking. Select site on one side of the center of a fingertip. Rotate sites for each check. Apply gentle pressure to lanced finge Continue reading >>
Living With Diabetes
News you can use about diabetes Living with diabetes is about so much more than well, diabetes. It's about the ups, like small daily accomplishments and achieving your goals, and the downs. It can be complicated, but it may help to keep in mind that you can find inspiration, information, and motivation here. In these featured articles, you'll discover ideas to take the pressure off and help you deal with everything from making travel easier to making dining out more enjoyable. Since stress can really take its toll on your blood sugar, you can read how to tackle that, too. More articles are added each month. So browse them all, get inspired, and check back in with us often. If you'd like, you can sign up for more TeamingUp to get regular updates. Continue reading >>
Self-monitoring Of Blood Glucose: The Use Of The First Or The Second Drop Of Blood
Go to: Abstract There is no general agreement regarding the use of the first or second drop of blood for glucose monitoring. This study investigated whether capillary glucose concentrations, as measured in the first and second drops of blood, differed ≥10% compared with a control glucose concentration in different situations. Capillary glucose concentrations were measured in two consecutive drops of blood in the following circumstances in 123 patients with diabetes: without washing hands, after exposing the hands to fruit, after washing the fruit-exposed hands, and during application of different amounts of external pressure around the finger. The results were compared with control measurements. Not washing hands led to a difference in glucose concentration of ≥10% in the first and in the second drops of blood in 11% and 4% of the participants, respectively. In fruit-exposed fingers, these differences were found in 88% and 11% of the participants, respectively. Different external pressures led to ≥10% differences in glucose concentrations in 5–13% of the participants. We recommend washing the hands with soap and water, drying them, and using the first drop of blood for self-monitoring of blood glucose. If washing hands is not possible, and they are not visibly soiled or exposed to a sugar-containing product, it is acceptable to use the second drop of blood after wiping away the first drop. External pressure may lead to unreliable readings. Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an important part of diabetes care. The purpose of SMBG is to provide a timely and reliable assessment of blood glucose concentrations in an individual in order to be able to make adequate decisions in relation to diet, exercise, and medication (1,2). There are several aspects concern Continue reading >>
How To Check Your Blood Sugar
GENERAL INFORMATION: Why do I need to check my blood sugar level? High blood sugar levels increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, eye problems, and kidney problems. You can decrease your risk of these problems by controlling your blood sugar levels. Low blood sugar levels can also lead to serious health problems and must be treated right away. Check your blood sugar to help you learn how food, exercise, stress, and medicines affect your levels. Keep a record of your blood sugar levels. It can be used to adjust your meal plan, exercise routine, insulin doses, or diabetes medicine if needed. How do I check my blood sugar level? Check your blood sugar level with a glucose meter. This device uses a small drop of blood to measure your blood sugar level. Some glucose meters take the sample from your finger with a special lancet device. Other meters use blood from your thigh, forearm, or the palm of your hand. Blood sugar levels change quickly after meals, after you take insulin, during exercise, and when you feel stressed or ill. It is best to use blood from your finger to check your blood sugar level during these times. Your healthcare provider will teach you how to use a glucose meter to check your blood sugar level. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about taking blood samples from areas other than your finger. How do I choose a blood glucose meter? There many different types of meters and test strips. Healthcare providers will help you choose the best meter for you. Ask yourself the following questions when you shop for a glucose meter: Is the meter the right size for you? Is it easy for you to see the numbers in the display area? Does the meter seem easy to use? Is it easy to get supplies for the meter if you are traveling? Does the meter have a memor Continue reading >>
Why Is Blood Sugar Testing Important?
Measuring blood sugar (glucose) levels at home has become a cornerstone of diabetes care. Measuring blood sugar regularly can: Help you know if your blood sugar is within your target range. Staying in a healthy range can help prevent or delay the long-term complications of high blood sugar, such as heart, kidney, eye, nerve, and circulation problems Help you know if your blood sugar is too low or too high and treatment is needed Help you know how much and which type of medicine to use Prevent low blood sugar at night Help you manage illness at home Let you know if you need to do a ketone test (if you have type 1 diabetes) Help you understand the effects of certain foods, exercise, and stress on your blood sugar Help your healthcare provider know if changes in your treatment are needed What supplies are needed? Doing a blood test requires: Finger-pricking (lancing) device: A finger-pricking device (called a lancet) is used to get a drop of blood for the test. The lancet can often be set at different depths for different people. Adjustable lancets are good for young children and tender skin and for when you do not need the lancet to go deep. Remember to change the lancet every day. A sharp and clean lancet helps prevent injury and infection. Blood glucose meter (glucometer): Most people use blood glucose meters to test blood sugar. Not all meters measure in the same way, so the results from different meters are not always the same. It doesn't matter which type of meter you choose as long as you always use the same meter. Bring the meter to each clinic visit. Your healthcare provider can get a record of the test results from the meter. Some features to look for in a meter include: Accuracy: Make sure the meter is accurate in the environment where you live, for example, in Continue reading >>
Finger Sticking Techniques
(This article appeared in the Voice of the Diabetic, Volume 16, Number 2, Spring 2001 Edition, published by the Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind. Updated July 2004) We know blood glucose monitoring is important because it helps us keep our diabetes under control. You should test often. How you test matters too, as poor technique wastes strips and can give you inaccurate readings. Good testing techniques will also minimize the number of times we must stick our fingers. If you have not achieved good finger-sticking techniques, I recommend the old adage, Practice makes perfect. I am a type 1 diabetic, and I empathize with individuals whose fingertips are bruised and sore from testing, and with others who have trouble getting enough blood from the puncture site. Test strips are extremely expensive, and it is frustrating for people who must stick themselves over and over while trying to get enough blood for a good reading. Finger Sticking Locations You should generally use the sides of your fingers for sticking sites. More nerves are present in the center of fingers, so lancing in this location may bring more pain. Note several glucose monitors now allow "alternative site" testing - but their instructions specify that critical readings should be taken frm the fingers. I use all ten fingers for blood sugar testing, and on each finger I have four penetration sites. Some people occasionally use the middle of a finger if the sides have become too sore. Ann S. Williams, MSN, RN, CDE, herself a type 2 diabetic, chooses her test sites by day of the week and time of day. Her left index finger is for Monday, left middle finger for Tuesday, left ring finger for Wednesday, etc. On each finger, the side toward the thumb, opposite the base of the fingernail Continue reading >>
Diabetes: Checking Your Blood Sugar
Introduction Because you have diabetes, you need to know when your blood sugar level is outside the target range for your body. Fortunately, you can see what your blood sugar level is anywhere and anytime by using a home blood sugar meter (blood glucose meter). Using the meter, you can find out what your blood sugar level is quickly. Knowing your blood sugar level helps you treat low or high blood sugar before it becomes an emergency. It also helps you know how exercise and food affect your blood sugar and how much short-acting insulin (if you take insulin) to take. Most importantly, it helps you feel more in control as you manage life with diabetes. How to test your blood sugar Monitoring your blood sugar level at home takes the guesswork out of your daily diabetes care. You will know what your blood sugar level is at the time of testing. Here is a simple way to get started. Get organized Link testing your blood sugar with other daily activities, such as preparing breakfast or before your afternoon walk. This will help you establish the habit of self-testing. Gather the supplies to test your blood sugar. Keep your supplies together so that you can do a test quickly if needed. Check your equipment before you do each test. Check the expiration date on your testing strips. If you use expired test strips, you may not get accurate results. Many meters don't need a code from the test strips, but some will. If your meter does, make sure the code numbers on the testing strips bottle match the numbers on your meter. If the numbers do not match, follow the directions that come with your meter for changing the code numbers. Most manufacturers recommend using the sugar control solution that is made by your meter's manufacturer the first time you use a meter, when you open a new bo Continue reading >>
Home Blood Glucose Test
A A A Test Overview A home blood glucose test measures the amount of a type of sugar, called glucose, in your blood at the time of testing. The test can be done at home or anywhere, using a small portable machine called a blood glucose meter. Home blood sugar testing can be used to monitor your blood sugar levels. Talk with your doctor about how often to check your blood sugar. How often you need to check it depends on your diabetes treatment, how well your diabetes is controlled, and your overall health. People who take insulin to control their diabetes may need to check their blood sugar level several times a day. Testing blood sugar at home is often called home blood sugar monitoring or self-testing. If you use insulin rarely or don't use it at all, blood sugar testing can be very helpful in learning how your body reacts to foods, illness, stress, exercise, medicines, and other activities. Testing before and after eating can help you adjust what you eat. Some types of glucose meters can store hundreds of glucose readings. This allows you to review collected glucose readings over time and to predict glucose levels at certain times of the day. It also allows you to quickly spot any major changes in your glucose levels. Some of these systems also allow information to be saved to a computer so that it can be turned into a graph or another easily analyzed form. Some newer models of home glucose meters can communicate with insulin pumps. Insulin pumps are machines that deliver insulin through the day. The meter helps to decide how much insulin you need to keep your blood sugar level in your target range. Why It Is Done A home blood glucose test is an accurate way to measure your blood sugar level at the time of testing. If you have diabetes, testing your blood glucose leve Continue reading >>
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Diabetes In Children: Checking Blood Sugar In A Child
Introduction Your child needs to know when his or her blood sugar level is outside the target range. Fortunately, your child's blood sugar level can be checked anywhere and anytime by using a home blood sugar (glucose) meter. Blood sugar meters give results quickly. Knowing your child's blood sugar level helps you treat low or high blood sugar before it becomes an emergency. It also helps you know how exercise and food affect your child's blood sugar and how much short-acting insulin to give (if your child takes insulin). How is blood sugar monitored? Here is a simple way to get started monitoring your child's blood sugar at home. Use these same steps to help your child learn this task. Get organized Before you start testing your child's blood sugar: Talk with the doctor about how often and when you should test your child's blood sugar. Use a blood sugar testing times form (What is a PDF document?) to record this information. Link testing your child's blood sugar with other daily activities, such as right after getting ready for breakfast or right before an afternoon activity. This will help your child build the habit of self-testing. Be sure you have the supplies you need to test your child's blood sugar. Keep the supplies together so that a test can be done quickly if needed. Check your equipment before each test. Check the expiration date on the testing strips. If you use test strips after the expiration date on the bottle, you may not get accurate results. Many meters don't need a code from the test strips, but some will. If your meter does, make sure the code numbers on the testing strips bottle match the numbers on the blood sugar meter. If the numbers do not match, follow the directions that come with the meter for changing the code numbers. Most manufacturers re Continue reading >>
7 Ways To Make Blood-sugar Testing Less Painful
No more sore fingers You need to prick your finger to obtain a drop of blood for home blood-glucose monitoring. Does it hurt? Some people say yes, but they've gotten used to it. Others say they find it virtually painless. Only you can decide. But here are 7 tried-and-true methods for making it less painful. Find out what works for you When Nancy Chiller Janow, age 54, was first diagnosed with type 2, her endocrinologist "punctured me so hard in the middle of the finger pad, that I never wanted to test again," she says. "It really hurt." Janow's internist recommended she experiment to find a more comfortable spot. "I did and finally found that testing on the side of the pad, close to the nail, is the most comfortable," she says. "I often use my thumb. Maybe because that's more callused, it's more comfortable and doesn't hurt when I stick it." Avoid pricking the finger’s tip This part of the finger is especially sensitive and can be more painful than other parts of your finger. Aim for the side of your finger. Fingertips are a poor choice because they tend to have more nerve endings, says Nadine Uplinger, director of the Gutman Diabetes Institute at Albert Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia. "We teach people to monitor on the sides of their fingers, not down by the knuckle but up by the nail bed on the fleshy part and not on the tips," she says. "Another thing to do is pinch or put pressure on where you're going to test to seal it and that seems to minimize pain." Continue reading >>
Diabetes: Checking Your Blood Sugar
Overview Because you have diabetes, you need to know when your blood sugar level is outside the target range for your body. Fortunately, you can see what your blood sugar level is anywhere and anytime by using a home blood sugar meter (blood glucose meter). Using the meter, you can find out what your blood sugar level is quickly. Knowing your blood sugar level helps you treat low or high blood sugar before it becomes an emergency. It also helps you know how exercise and food affect your blood sugar and how much short-acting insulin (if you take insulin) to take. Most importantly, it helps you feel more in control as you manage life with diabetes. How to test your blood sugar Monitoring your blood sugar level at home takes the guesswork out of your daily diabetes care. You will know what your blood sugar level is at the time of testing. Here is a simple way to get started. Get organized Link testing your blood sugar with other daily activities, such as preparing breakfast or before your afternoon walk. This will help you establish the habit of self-testing. Gather the supplies to test your blood sugar. Keep your supplies together so that you can do a test quickly if needed. Check your equipment before you do each test. Check the expiration date on your testing strips. If you use expired test strips, you may not get accurate results. Many meters don't need a code from the test strips, but some will. If your meter does, make sure the code numbers on the testing strips bottle match the numbers on your meter. If the numbers do not match, follow the directions that come with your meter for changing the code numbers. Most manufacturers recommend using the sugar control solution that is made by your meter's manufacturer the first time you use a meter, when you open a new bottle Continue reading >>
